In a message on the occasion of the start of the solar year 1402, His Eminence Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, extended his congratulations to the Iranian nation and all nations that celebrate Eid-e Nowruz, and he mentioned that the most vital issue of the country over the last year had been the economy and people’s livelihood. Emphasising that the economy is the central issue of the country this year as well, he announced that the slogan for the year 1402 would be ‘inflation control and production growth.’
At the start of his Nowruz address, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to the proximity between the spring of nature and the spring of spirituality, mentioning, “The gusts of spirituality in the blessed month of Ramadan encompass everyone, and we must ready our hearts to become fragranced by them, placing our hearts in the path of these gusts.”
After briefly reviewing the year 1401, His Eminence Ayatollah Khamenei saw this year as one with many different bitter and sweet events – much similar to all years following the Islamic Revolution – and he added, stressing that the economy was the most pressing issue of the nation over the last year, “There were bitter and sweet [events] regarding the economy as well. The difficulties were mostly due to inflation and rising prices, especially the price of foodstuffs and household items that rose quite high, and the lower levels of society felt the pressure the most.”
He mentioned, “Of course, positive measures have been carried out concerning the economy that must be implemented in the lives and livelihoods of the people.”
Listing the support for production in 1401, The Leader of the Islamic Revolution mentioned the opening of several thousand factories in addition to an increase in knowledge-based enterprise companies and a minor percentile decrease in unemployment among the positive measures in the economic sector and said, “Another gratifying point of the economic sector over the last year was the exhibition of the capabilities and achievements of state and non-state producers and the meeting with the major producers of the nation in Imam Khomeini (r.a) Husayniyyah.”
Emphasising that he has a positive view towards the actions of the country’s producers, His Eminence Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to the growth of some economic indicators and added, “There are good indicators in the insurance sector, and encouraging measures have been taken in the water, gas, travel and environmental sectors.”
He said, “I emphatically declare that the positive measures taken in the economic sector must lead to a sense of relief in the lives and livelihoods of the people, especially the weaker classes, and this is not possible except through careful planning and persistence in taking such measures.”
Regarding the assessment of the economic state of the country, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution noted that the positive and negative occurrences must be viewed and judged as a whole.
Accentuating that economic difficulties are not specific to Iran, and all countries, including those with solid and advanced economies, are afflicted with economic challenges such that even banks are in debt and are going bankrupt, His Eminence Ayatollah Khamenei said, “State officials and also economic, political and cultural activists must put in all their efforts to make this a pleasant year for the Iranian nation by reducing the bitter [occurrences] and increasing their successes.”
He mentioned regarding the year 1402, “The main pivotal issue of the country this year remains the economy. Of course, this does not mean that there are no problems in other sectors. There are various cultural and political problems throughout the nation. Still, suppose the government, parliament, economic activists and youthful and motivated popular groups invest all their efforts into solving the problems of the people. In that case, many other issues will also be solved.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution considered the solution to the people’s problems dependent on fundamental economic activity such as production and humanitarian measures like popular assistance and aiding the weaker classes of society. He noted, “One of the main measures besides production is the pressing issue of investment to which the state officials and the private sector must pay special attention.”
Referring to the nation falling behind others in investment over the last twelve years, His Eminence Ayatollah Khamenei stressed, “One of the serious gaps is the issue of investment which must be prepared and carried out by designing a foundation for it.”
He added, “Considering all these aspects – especially the issue of inflation as the main problem, and production as one of the keys to rescuing the country from economic difficulties – I announce that the slogan for the year 1402 shall be ‘inflation control and production growth.’”
His Eminence Ayatollah Khamenei highlighted, “The economic officials and activists, popular and cultural activists and the IRIB [Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting] – which is tasked with culture creation – must invest all their endeavours into these two issues so the inflation can be curbed and reduced primarily before secondarily setting the foundation for an increase in production.”
Concluding his Nowruz address, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution asked Allah to bestow happiness and joy upon the Iranian nation throughout the new year after expressing his devotion to His Eminence Baqiyyatullah al-A`dham (aj) and asking Allah to elevate the rank of the pure souls of the esteemed Imam and the martyrs.